Article of apparel



Jan. 6, 1942.

F. T. PETERS.

ARTICLE 0F APPAREL Filed oct. 24, 1939 I ,-JMW Franklin T FEET'S l Patented im. 6, 194.2l a

An'rrcm or Armani.

Franklin Traviss Peters, Wilmington, Del., as-

signor to E. I. du Pont de Nemours Company, Wilmington, Del., acorporation of Delaware Apliumionoctober 24, 1939, serial No; 361,644

1 cnim. (ci. 154-46) Y This invention relates to articles of apparel and more particularly to stiff and semi-still articles of this kind.

Among the more successful 'of the various ways for manufacturing articles of the present kind it has been proposed to form collars from laminated cloth obtained 'by bonding together a y plurality of plies of broadcloth through a stiffening layer of cellulose acetate which may be in the form of `a mixed-weave fabric with cotton.

' These articles, however, tend to lose their stiliness and vresiliency after -repeated laundering. Resinous materials have 'also been used with some success as the bonding lmaterial or interlayer but'since plasticlzers must usually be used to obtain the required flexibility, undesirable changes take place through removal of the plasticizer in washing or by evaporation.

This invention has as an object a new and improved laminated cloth which is `suitable for the manufacture of permanently stiffened collars and cuirs. A further object is the manufacture of articleso'f apparel such as'collars and cuffs which are free from the above mentioned defects usually found in articles of this kind. Other objects will appear hereinafter;

'I'hese objects are accomplished by uniting two or more laminae.' of suitable cloth, such as broadcloth, by means of a uber-forming syntheticV linear polymer.

forming derivatives (ester, acid halide, anhydride. nitrile, amide, and lactam) and those derived from the reaction of suitable diamines with suitable dicarboxylic acids or amide-forming derivatives of dibasic carboxylic acids. On hydrolysis with mineral acids the polyamides re- Yvert to monomeric amide-forming reactants. For

example, a polyamide derived from a diamine and a dibasic carboxylic acid yields on hydrolysis with hydrochloric acid the dibasic acid and the diamine hydrochloride. Similarly, a polyamide derived from an amino acid yields an amino acid hydrochloride on hydrolysis with hydrochloric acid.

'I'he ber-forming linear polymers used in the practice of this invention are the high molecular weight linear condensation polymers described in U. S. Patent 2,071,250 which are capable oi being converted by suitable application of stress,

referred to as cold drawing, into strong fibers showing by characteristic X-ray patterns orientation along the liber axis. These polymers are obtainable from bifunctional reactants. Condensation polymers, as defined in J. Am.' f Chem. Soc. 51, 2559 (1929) are polymers the polymeric molecule of which can be converted by hydrolysis or its equivalent to a monomer v `which differs in composition from the structural unitby'o'ne H20 (or HC1, NH2 etc.)' or are polymers in which the polymeric molecule is formed from numbers of the monomers by a process of polyintermolecular condensation.

A representative class of the above polymers which are most useful in'the practice of this invezition are the polyamides particularly described in U. S. Patents 2,907l,253 and 2,130,948. The synthetic linear polyamides are of two types, namely, those derived from polymerizable monoaminomonocarboxylic acids or their amide- The polyamides most useful as laminating agents arethose having an intrinsic viscosity above 0.4, where intrinsic viscosity is defined as in the above mentioned U. S. Patent 2,130,948. In general, the strength and toughness of a polyamide increases with the intrinsic viscosity, polyamides having intrinsic viscosities between 0.

' tures of diamines, glycols, and dibasic acids. For

the lamination of fabrics and the preparation of stiffened collars, cuffs, etc., the interpolyamides are of especial value, possessing melting points in the appropriate range, namely from to 200 C., together with high strength and an appropriate flexibility.

As an especially' valuable interpolyamide ther may be mentioned the interpolymer derived by 'polymerization of an equimolecular mixture of hexamethylene, diammonium adipate with decamethylene diammonium sebacate, and the interpolymer derived by interpolymerization of a mixture of hexamethylene diammonium adipate with omega-aminocaproic acid or its amideincluding caprolactam.

forming derivatives, These vinterpolymers may be prepared from readily available intermediates, and vpossess desirable physical properties. The laminated fab-f rics prepared Pwith these interpolymers possess an especially appropriate de greel of stillness for use in collars, cuffs, etc. Furthermore, these interpolyamides melt at 15o-175. C., and laminationsof good anchorage without striking .through and without fabric degradation can therefore be prepared. These interpolymers also possess good solubility in volatile solvents and are therefore readily adapted to the economical and commercially attractive process of solvent fusing, wherein the interlayer is moistened with a solvent for the polymer and subsequently bonded to the outer plies by pressing at a relatively low temperature. The addition of plasticizers to such interpolyamides is generally unnecessary but is occasionally desirable. as for example when a somewhat more flexible product is required for a special use, or when a product is desired that can be fused at relatively low temperatures without the use of solvents.

The stiffness of laminated collars, cuffs, etc., may be partially controlled by varying the degree of impregnation achieved during the fusing step or by changing the amount of polymer in the interliner. The strength of adhesion is sometimes improved by rapidly cooling the lamination after it has been formed, as by quenching it with water or other non-solvent.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 vis a plan view of a collar to which the present invention is applied;

Fig. 2 is a view showing the separate plies from which the collar shown in Fig, 1 is made; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

The numeral l indicates the collar assembly which as shown in Fig. 3 comprises the inner and outer broadcloth plies 3 and 4 and synthetic linear polymer interliner B. The collar is formed in the usual manner bycutting the suitably shaped blanks shown in Fig. 2 and arranging the synthetic linear polymer 6 on top of the two broa-dcloth plies 3 and I. Stitching 1 is applied along three sides, and the assembly is turned inside out in such a manner that the synthetic linear polymer 6 is between the two broadcloth plies 3 and 4. A row of ornamental stitching 5 is applied on three sides, and the three plies are then subjected to the influences of heat and pressure to form a composite collar whereby the separate plies become integral. The unstitched side 2 is then inserted in theneckband (not shown) and is held in position by a row of stitching (not shown). Although the above illustration for simplicity has referred only to a -3-ply collar, it is to be understood that this invention is applicable to all the known forms of collars, cuffs, etc., in which the several plies of conventional collar fabric are joined through or by means of a stiffening interliner.

The following examples are illustrative of methods suitable for practicing my invention:

Example I Example II,

Cotton muslin is coated and impregnated with a solution of 15 parts of an interpolyamide of intrinsic viscosity 0.85, derived by condensation polymerization from equimolecular parts of hexamethylene diammonium adipate and decamethylene diammonium sebacate, in 85 parts of a solvent consisting of 2 volumes of methanol mixed with one volume of trichlorethylene, the solution being used at 41 C. The coating is achieved by immersing lthe fabric in the solution, allowing it to drain at room temperature, and finally removing all traces of solvent by heating at 70 C. for 30 minutes. In this manner, 71 parts of polymer is coated on every 100 parts of fabric. The coated fabric is then placed between sheets of broadcloth, after moistening both the coated fabric and the sheets of broadcloth with n-butanol, and the composition is pressed under a medium hot hand iron for 5-8 seconds. 'Ihe product has very good anchorage and a pliability desirable for semi-stiff collars. Anchorage is not affected by laundering for 15 minutes at the boil.

Example III Cotton muslin fabric is coated with an aqueous colloidal suspension containing 8% of a nely divided interpolyamide prepared by the copolymerization of 6 parts of hexamethylene diammonium adipate and 4 parts of caprolactam, thepolymer having an intrinsic viscosity of 1.0. Five coats of the suspension are applied on each side of the muslin. The dry weight of coating realized by this method is approximately 3.5

' ounces per 38" yard. The interliner thus pre- A film 0.002" thick of an interpolyamide of intrinsic viscosity of 0.85 derived by condensation polymerization from equimolecular parts of hexamethylene diammonium adipate and decamethylene diammonium sebacate is placed between two layers of cotton broadcloth, and the composition is then pressed between heated plates at 135 C. for 45 seconds under a pressure of 6000-8000 lbs/sq. in. The product shows very good adhesion, it being impossible to separate the outer layers from the polyamide interlayer without tearing the cloth. The polymer does not strike through the fabric. 'Ihe product is of a stiffness appropriate for use as permanently stiiened collars, cuffs, shirt fronts, etc. laminated fabric upon test showed that the plies do not separate after soaking in water at room temperature for 24 hours or boiled in an aqueous solution containing 0.25% soap and 0.1% sodium carbonate for 5 minutes.

The

pared is fused between plies of broadcloth, moistening the broadcloth with water, and pressing at 320 F. for 5-10' seconds. The laminated fabric prepared in this way is fabricated into a semistiff collar, yoiiering no difficulties in the sewling and cutting steps, and giving a final product which is of an appropriate degree of stiffness.

Example IV Woven polyhexamethylene adipamide fabric was fused between outer plies of white broadcloth by pressing with a heated electric plate. The product was well anchored and very resistant to laundering treatments.

Example V A sheet 0.014" thick of polyamide prepared by the polymerization of caprolactam was fused between outer plies of white broadcloth by pressing between plates at 198` C. for 60 seconds under a pressure of 8000 lbs/sq. in. 'Ihe product showed good anchorage and stiffness, and the anchorage was not destroyed by soaking a sample -of the product in water at room temperature for one week.

Example VI Cotton muslin fabric was passed through a so,.

fused between outer layers of white broadcloth by pressing under a hot plate, after moistening the interlayer with n-butanol. The product had the. pliability desired in a semi-stm collar.

Example VII A fabric woven from 120 denier, 30 filament yarn prepared from an ester-amide interpolymer derived from 30 parts of hexamethylene diammonium sebacate and 'l0 parts o! pentaglycol sebacic acid mixture was fused at 125 C. and

, ter-polyamides, and other linear polymers, in-

6000 lbs/sq. in. pressure for seconds between two outer plies of broadcloth. The product had an anchorage and pliabiiity which were appropriate for use in permanently stiff collars, cuis, etc. The anchorage was not destroyed by soaking in water at room temperature for 24 hours.

Example VIII formed illms of polymer or polymer in commi-v nuted form may be used as an interliner between outer laminae of the cloth and anchorage achieved by pressing together at a temperature close to the softening point of the polyamide. Adhesion may be obtained at lower temperatures by conducting the pressing step in the presence of small amounts of a volatile material which is a solvent or swelling agent for the polyamide.

In another method there is utilized as an interliner a porous structure, such as cloth which has been impregnated or coated with polymer. Such impregnation or coating may be obtained by dipping the cloth in molten polymer or in a solution of polymer in a volatile solvent, or in a suspension of finely divided polymer in a volatile liquid, or by spreading or spraying such solutions, suspensions, or melts on they cloth. Impregnation may also be obtained by pressing a sheet of one of the cloth laminae against a lm of polymer at a temperature such that the polymer film is melted and ilows into and impregnates the cloth.- These methods are often of especial commercial value, since only a relatively small amount of polymer is generally suicient to obtain very good anchorage. Penetration of the polymer solution into the fabric may occasionally be accelerated by pre-wetting the fabric with the solvent or vehicle. There may also be used as an interliner a fabric woven wholly or in part from polymer which has been prepared in iilament form and. ii desired, has been oriented by the application of stress. Porous lms of polymer may also be used as an interliner.

Suitable bonds may also be achieved by coating one or both of the cloth surfaces which are to be adhesively joined with a solution of the polymer in a volatile solvent, allowing the major portion of the solvent to evaporate, and then bringing the surfaces in contact and removing the last traces of solvent, preferably by heating. It is sometimes advantageous to apply the polymer from solution, after which the temperature is raised to drive olf all solvents and to fuse the polymer before the outer laminae are brought in contact to make the bond.

In addition to the hpolyamides, which are preferred because they present the most desirable dll terpolymers, and copolymers in which the functional group (linking group) ls an integral part of the chain of linear atoms. As indicated in U. S, Patent 2,071,250 these polymers are microcrystalline.

. The polyamides, as previously indicated. may be obtained by reaction of a diamine with anl equimolecular amount of dibasic acid, or from polymerizable amino acids, preferably of the type R-NH-R'-COOH where R' is a divalent organic radical having a chain of at least 5 atoms and R is a univalent organic radical or hydrogen. Interpolymers derived from mixtures of the above ingredients are also especially valuable, a particularly useful subclass being those interpolymers derived by interpolymerization of an equimolecular mixture of a straight chain diamine and a straight chain dibasic acid, which mixture also contains any desired amount of a polymerizable amino acid or derivative thereof. As diamines suitable for use may be mentioned tetra, penta. hexa, octa-, and deca-methylenediamines, as well as substituted derivatives such as diaminoisopropanol. Examples of suitable dibasic acids are malonic, glutaric, adipic, pimelic. suberic, sebacic and diphenic acids and their substituted derivatives, such as methyl adipic acid. Also operable are amide-forming derivatives of these acids, such as esters. 4halides, nitriles. amides, and anhydrides. amide-forming ingredients. either alone or in admixture with the above mentioned diamines and dibasicvacids, there may be used polymerizable amino acids such as G-aminocaproic acid, 7- aminoheptoic acid, 9-aminononoic acid, 11-aminoundecanoic acid, l'I-aminoheptadecanoic'acid, 8- aminocaprylic acid, and amide-forming derivatives of such acids, such as the esters, halides, nitriles, amides, anhydrides and lactams.

The solvents and softening agents useful in the application of the polymers to the cloth include mentioned phenols, cresols, water, organic and inorganic acids, saturated and unsaturated alcohols, and mixtures of such alcohols with water or with chlorinated hydrocarbons.

Pressures ranging from to 10,000 lbs/sq. in. and temperatures of 100200 C. are suitable forthe preparation of the stiilened fabrics described herein. In general temperatures of l0 to 50 C. below the melting point of the polymer are best.

The film or interlayer used in the preparation of the laminated articles of this invention need not necessarily consist solely of polymer. It is' within the scope of the invention to use softening or plasticizing agents in conjunction with the polyamides. Suitable plasticizers for this purpose are o-hydroxydiphenyl, diphenylolpropane, aryl sulfonamides. alkylarylsulfonamides,

aliphatic esters and diesters, or mixtures thereof. The use of such plasticizers is sometimes desirable, since their presence generally results in a polymer composition of improved adhesive properties. If a plasticizer is to be used, it is frequently advantageous to prepare the polyamide in the presence of a plasticizer. Plasticizers may also be added to solutions of the polymer, or nlms of the' polymer may be soaked in the plasticizer before placing between the lam- Furthermore, as polyinae. If desired, other materials may be added to the polymer or to the solution containing the polymer. Such materials include pigmentsvextenders, fillers, resins, dyes, and cellulose derivatives. Wetting agents may be added to the solutions to aid penetration.

In the preparation of stiff fabrics, especially in permanently stiff collars, the invention yields a product of markedly improved durability. They do not, as docollars stiiened with cellulose acetate, lose their stiffness and resiliency during use, due to degration of the bonding agent by laundering and other treatments. The products of this invention are stable to laundering treatments, perspiration, etc. The laminated products described herein exhibit greatly improved anchorage, and properly prepared stiiened fabrics cannot be separated from the interlayer without tearing the outer layers, even after repeated laundering, while most commercial products are readily separated from the interiiner even when dry. r

A particularly valuable advantage of my improved wearing apparel arises from the fact that it is possible through the use of particular polyamides, namely, interpolyamides to obtain a product of appropriate stiilness Without the use of a plasticizer. The importance .of this fact will be apparent from the defectsinherent in the co1- lars previously used which are stiffened with plasticized resinous compositions. These compositions change in properties during use, due to evaporation or washing out of the plasticizer and/or to degradation of the resin. This plasticizer loss results in undue stiffening which often causes the,resinous interlayer to actually cut through the outer plies at points of stress.

In this invention changes in stiffness due to plasticizer loss are eliminated.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from thespirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

An article of apparel of the class consisting of collars, cuffs, and the like which comprises at least two'cloth laminae bonded by means Aof an interlayer of high molecular weight interpolymer consisting essentiallyv of the interpolymerization product of hexamethylene diammonium adipate and a substance of the class consisting of omega-aminocaproic acid and its amide-forming derivatives. l

FRANKLIN TRAVISS PETERS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,268, 616. l January 6, 1914.2.

FRANKLIN TRA vIss PETERS;

v It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification" 0f the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page l, first colum'n, line 52, for "2,.907l,255" read 2,07l,255; page l1., first column, line' 12,' for "degration" read -degradation; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.y

Signed and sealed this 17th day of February, A. D. '1191;2.

` l Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of'l Patents. 

